Funny Story About my Headers

[THE STIG]

So I'm on my local craigslist last week just lookin to see what, if any, parts are out there for my car. So I put 440 into the search and a bunch of stuff pops up most of it silly stuff I can't use, but then I notice a set of headers and better yet there only $45. I click on the listing and see the pics, a few dings and one little dent but nothing that can't be remidied. So I respond via email and we arrange a meeting at his place and he gives me his number, his name is Rik (and I notice the spelling is not the normal way of spelling that). On the day I'm ready to go get them, I give him a call and right off the bat I notice somthing is a little diffrent about the way this dude talks, somthing is a little off. I live in Indianapolis and this dude is giving me directions,  he's on the complete opposite side of town from me in a subburb that's a little remote and in some areas pretty affluant, (for lack of a better term). So I set off on my way and I start to think of some of the weird stories you hear about craigslist, people posting stuff for sale and then when the perspective buyer shows up... WHAM, and whatever happens, happens. So I follow the directions and get into this dude's area and almost immediatly after I get off the Interstate I'm in the middle of nowhere, I mean total sticks plus the sun has gone down so the only lights around me are coming from my own car. I get to the address and I can see the house back off the road, nice place from what I can see but there is a big gate in front of the house (?). At this point I'm having visions of "Silence of the Lambs" "Deliverence" and "Joe Dirt". I call him and tell him I'm there and he tells me to pull up the drive and turn left at the house, (" It pulls up the drive and turns left at the house") so I do. When I get there he comes out and I see him open the tailgate of a pick up truck (where he puts the bodies maybe?). Then I notice this dude is tall, I mean like really really tall then I catch a glimpse of his face and sudenly all makes sense, I know who this dude is and he's not Buffalo Bob. So I get out of the car and try and play it off like I don't know who he is, but I got the feeling that he knew that I knew so I just asked "Are you Rik Smits", he says "Yeah" and shakes my hand (former Center for the Indiana Pacers). He shows me the headers and they were as described,  he asks what I got and I tell him a 70 Charger he says "cool" and begins to tell me about his Roadrunner he's building.  He was an overall really cool dude, for those not in the Indiana area this dude was as big as Peyton Manning is now in this town back when he was still playing. But he was an overall really cool dude and a genuine gearhead and Mopar guy. Best of all he gave me the hook up on a set of long tube headers for like 1/3 of what I would have paid for a brand new set. After I left his house I called one of my friends who's actually a bigger basketball fan than I am and told him all about it he thought it was pretty cool and then he asked if I checked out his Superbird.... DAMNIT!!!!!!!!

[Dans 68]

Very cool story. 

Dan

[dpm68]

That IS pretty damn cool. Go back there and check the 'bird out. Brink a 6-pack! (not the carb set-up - the beer).

[BrianShaughnessy]

Cool.      

   I'm told he used to live my way as he used to play for Marist college in Poughkeepsie.     Lisa's boss once bought an A12 Bee off him and visited his rather large collection.   

   

[FlatbackFanatic]

Very cool! Now thats something that doesn't happen everyday.

[Ghoste]

Cool!

[Neal_J]

I remember reading several stories about him & his Mopars several years ago.  Cool~

[kshack1]

Just so you know I live in Muncie about 1 hour north of Indy and Rik is at the muncie dragway quite often on wednesdays in the summer. Has a Typhoon he likes to run. Just a regular car nut.

[HITMAN 149]

awesome!!
i love that rik smits is selling stuff on CL!!! lmao

[THE STIG]

That IS pretty damn cool. Go back there and check the 'bird out. Brink a 6-pack! (not the carb set-up - the beer).

I should clarify about the Superbird, we're not 100% sure he has one. It's one of those situation where my friend has a friend who has a friend who heard he has one. You know how the old telephone game goes, it may be a Super Bee or a Roadrunner or somthing that turned into a Superbird.

[1BAD68]

(" It pulls up the drive and turns left at the house")

  That is hilarious!

[1969chargerrtse]

Cool stuff.  I'd call back and mention I heard about the Bird, or other car and ask for a showing.